I Want You Back
Bob Shad Lyrics
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I didn't want you around
Those pretty faces always made you
Stand out in a crowd
But someone picked you from the bunch
One glance was all it took
Now it's much too late for me
To take second look
Oh baby give me one more chance
To show you that I love you
Won't you please send me back in your heart
Oh darlin' I was blind to let you go
But now since I see you in his arms
I want you back
Yes I do now
I want you back
Ooh ooh baby
Yeah yeah, naw
Trying to live without your love
Is one long sleepless night
Let me show you girl
That I know wrong from right
Every street you walk on
I leave tear stains on the ground
Following the girl
I didn't even want around
Oh baby give me one more chance
To show you that I love you
Won't you please send me back in your heart
Abuh buh buh buh
All I want!
Abuh buh buh buh
All I need!
Abuh buh buh buh
The song is a classic plea for a second chance from a man who has realized his wrongs after losing the love of his life to another man. The first verse is a reflection on how the singer didn't appreciate his lover while he had the chance because she had many admirers. However, the second verse is a clearer admission of his regret and longing for her return, as he describes how he cannot live without her love and the pain she caused him by being with someone else. The chorus then begs for another opportunity to show her his love and win her back.
The song is a classic example of Motown's signature sound and production style, with its catchy, repetitive melody, and harmonized backing vocals. Interestingly, the song was originally written for Gladys Knight & the Pips, but Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown, decided it sounded too youthful and gave the song to the newly signed Jackson 5 instead. The song's success helped to launch the Jackson 5's career, and they went on to become one of the most successful groups in Motown's history.
Line by Line Meaning
When I had you to myself
When we were together, and you were only mine
I didn't want you around
I didn't want you near me all the time
Those pretty faces always made you
Your beauty made you stand out from others
Stand out in a crowd
Attracting people's attention when among many others
But someone picked you from the bunch
Someone else chose you from the group of people
One glance was all it took
One look was enough for them to pick you
Now it's much too late for me
It's too late for me to do anything about losing you
To take second look
To reconsider my decision of not wanting you around
Oh baby give me one more chance
Please let me try again to win you back
To show you that I love you
To prove my love for you by my actions
Won't you please send me back in your heart
Please let me back into your life and love
Oh darlin' I was blind to let you go
I wasn't able to see the worth of having you, so I let you go
But now since I see you in his arms
Seeing you with someone else makes me jealous and realize my mistake
I want you back
I want to be with you again
Yes I do now
I'm sure of my feelings now
Trying to live without your love
Living without your love has been hard for me
Is one long sleepless night
It's been a long, tiring period of not being able to sleep
Let me show you girl
Allow me to demonstrate to you
That I know wrong from right
That I have learned what the right thing to do is in a relationship
Every street you walk on
Wherever you go
I leave tear stains on the ground
I cry so much that tears fall on the floor
Following the girl
Stalking you and keeping track of your movements
I didn't even want around
Even though I tried to push away from you, I can't stop wanting you
Abuh buh buh buh All I want!
All that I need is you, and I'll do anything to win you back
Abuh buh buh buh All I need!
All I need is your love, and I'll do anything to earn it once again
Abuh buh buh buh
Expressing my deep desire to be with you
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Freddie Perren, Alphonso Mizell, Deke Richards, Berry Gordy Jr
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind